Criswell Chevrolet will pay $30,000 and implement policy changes to settle an EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit alleging the dealership violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to allow an employee with PTSD to have a service dog at work.
According to a news release distributed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on August 13, “The EEOC charged that Criswell Chevrolet violated federal law by refusing to allow a worker with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to have a service dog with him at work, leaving him no choice but to leave his employment.
Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). After attempting to reach a pre-litigation resolution through its conciliation process, the EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (EEOC v. Criswell Chevrolet, Inc., Case No. 8:25-cv-01632-TDC). In addition to the monetary relief, the consent decree settling the suit provides for injunctive relief, training on the ADA, and compliance-related reporting to the EEOC.
EEOC’s Philadelphia Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence said, “Criswell Chevrolet has implemented policy changes so that this situation should not reoccur. We are pleased that this company promptly resolved the suit.”
